On Friday 22nd March, 2024, the Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu received in audience the Iceland Head of Mission to Sierra Leone – Her Excellency Asdis Bjarnaddottir accompanied by Mr. Michael Panizza, the Regional Security Officer of the United States’ Embassy in Sierra Leone. The purpose of the visit to Police Headquarters, according to the Iceland Head of Mission, was to inform the Inspector General that they had secured a place at Fudia Terres for the establishment of the Iceland Embassy in Sierra Leone; adding that renovations to the building are already on-going. She revealed that effective May 2024, the office will be operational.
Among the many interests and priorities, she figured out that the Mission’s main focus when they start operations shall be community and social development.
In response, the Inspector General of Police -Mr Fayia Sellu welcomed the team to Sierra Leone and assured them of his maximum support at all times. He noted that ‘for us in the Security Sector, we feel good each time we have new embassies set up in our Country’. He said that it is reassuring to the security sector that people have confidence in the peace and security of the country.
As part of the responsibility of the Sierra Leone Police to foreign missions in the country, Mr. Sellu assured Her Excellency Asdis Bjarnaddottir of addressing all the security needs of the Embassy when they shall have been fully operational.
On another development, Mr. Michael Panizza, the Regional Security Officer of the United States Embassy in Sierra Leone thanked the IGP for his tireless efforts in maintaining the peace and security of the entire country; notifying that the National Drug Enforcement Agency in the United States of America will be visiting Sierra Leone. He urged the Inspector General of Police to meet with them upon their arrival and to hold further discussions with them on issues of security and safety.
Fully satisfied with the level of security and protection of the US Ambassador to Sierra Leone as he traversed the country, and the relative peace and quietness the country is enjoying under the leadership and direction of Mr. William Fayia Sellu, he called on the IGP to briefly discuss with him any policing project which the SLP may require assistance.
Following from that request, the IGP maintained that apart from normal training which the SLP needs, the country as a whole is experiencing growing trend of drug abuse; noting that the SLP continues to step up efforts and operations to curb the menace. He explained that the SLP’s determined efforts have seen an increase in operational activities in all entry points to the country, including Queen Elizabeth the II Quay. He alluded to the Sea Corp Project which provides for a multi-sectoral agency deployment to fight crime at the maritime domain.
Mr. Sellu emphasised the need for continuous training so that Police Officers could be at a level commensurate to fight emerging crimes. He added that other challenging issues are being gradually addressed, also referencing the interventions of other partners like the UNDP whom had already factored several policing needs into their 2024 work plan.
The IGP also spoke about the Institution’s training calendar which identifies several training needs, for which he seeks external interventions to help actualise same
In closing, he assured the US Embassy of his total commitment to addressing their security needs at all times.
SLP Media Team
